Don Pritchard

Don Pritchard was wonderful !!

See the earlier comments. Don exhibited a lot of knowledge about the region on multiple levels, always had an eye out for our safety, and adjusted well to the sometimes rainy conditions.

Don was fantastic. It turned out that two of us were plant nerds and it was a bonus that he has such a background in botany. He was quite knowledgeable about other aspects of the places we visited, and about the history. Also, a fun sense of humor. His guidance definitely enhanced the trip. I also appreciate the care he showed to our safety, especially one walker who was having a harder time.

Don was patient, polite and thoughtful.

Our guide Don was wonderful - knowledgeable about the areas we visited, willing to change the itineraries and schedule to accommodate all levels of our group and went above and beyond to help some of us (ahem) that may have left some personal items behind at a hotel. He made us all feel safe and in good hands so we could relax, “check out” and get the rejuvenation we were looking for. Could not have asked for a better guide!

Don was a fantastic guide. He took us on terrific hikes. He took very good care of us everywhere we went. He was very informative. He was very kind and accommodating. He went above and beyond when people needed help with something. I would happily go on another trip with him. Thank you, Don!

There is no trip without Don! He was incredibly funny, thoughtful, and attentive to our group. As one of the slower hikers, he stayed behind me and gave me the support and encouragement during some of the tougher terrain.

Our guide was the kindest man, it was like hiking with a family member - he was so solicitous and careful about safety.

Our guide, Don Pritchard, was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, professional, patient and humorous! We owe him so much gratitude for showing, urging, supporting, and leading us on the best adventure of our lifetime! We will be looking to do a trip with him again!

Don was amazing. He took care of all the details and adjusted to each our individual needs. He was so knowledgeable on history and plants - as well as the route. He told lots of fun stories. I'd love to take another hike or trip with him.

Don is a wealth of knowledge, he has good sense of humor and was very accommodating.

Don was fantastic. I can not say enough about how knowledgeable he was on the history and on the flora. He was patient with the people under going challenges and just a great calming presence. he was unflappable and took great care of us. I would love to go on another trip with him as my guide.

I don't have anything bad to say about Don. He was absolutely fantastic, and we raved about him both during the trip and afterwards. Can't imagine having a better guide for this experience!

Don Pritchard is a an absolute gem. He was clear in his communication and quick to adjust to the two different speeds of our group. He figured out how to reduce the time on the trail for the slow group on the last three days that made a huge difference. Without Don, the slowest member of our group would not have been able to finish. His assistance and coaching were instrumental. Not only was he exceptionally well organized, he had lots of interesting stories about the history of Scotland and the fauna and flora.

Our guide, Don Pritchard, was a star - well organised, kind and caring of his customers and our needs, knowledgable about Scottish history as well as wildlife, and an excellent communicator without being verbose! He was really accommodating of our wishes. He exceeded my expectations and I'd be pleased to have Don as guide on a future trip.

Our guide Don was excellent and very knowledgeable about the wildlife and history of the region. He was also very helpful and thoughtful regarding the different needs of the people in the group.

Don Pritchard was great. Well-informed, obliging, patient, flexible, uniformly cheerful and solicitous.

Friendly knowledgeable and caring with sense of humour

Don Pritchard for Scottish Highlands tour was an excellent guide. Would highly recommend for any adventure.

Don was the best of the best (and he didn't pay me to say that!) He was always looking out for us to make sure we were all fine; hot/cold/hungry/OK managing a tricky trail. We were also weather dependent and he adapted plans and always found a great and enjoyable alternative. He also knows a lot about Scotland!

Don was excellent. As I was usually last he spent time urging me along.while the others pushed on..... but as we share and interest in nature , outdoor life and history.. I guess I got the best briefings from him whereas some of the others may have felt a little ignored by comparison

LOVED Don! He as attentive, detailed, told good stories and paid attention to all of us to make sure we were safe and comfortable. This was our 6th trek (Kili, EBC, Patagonia, Machu Picchu and WHR). Don is by far the best guide we have ever had.

The trip exceeded our expectations by far! Don is one of the best tour guides I ever had (and I've travelled a lot!). His professionalism and local knowledge combined with the ability to adapt to the group members' abilities and preferences, plus a good portion of humour and great stories made the trip perfect.

Don was amazing! Everyone seemed to enjoy his expertise and guidance on the trails.

100% awesome. My favorite by far was Glenn Afric. After a couple of days of rain to be greeted by gorgeous sun. I also really enjoyed our time at trees of life.

I would go anywhere with Don! Very calming presence. Funny, knowledgeable, and a wonderful ambassador of Scotland.

Again, Don was amazing! I can't say enough wonderful things about him. We had a couple of days of crazy rain, and he was able to adapt our trails based on the weather and the state of the trails. I have asthma, and Don made sure to look out for me, to ensure I was okay! He gave me the confidence and support I needed to climb a very steep hill in the rain!! He is also hilarious, with a great dry wit, and indulged my sister and me in our silly road games (ask him about My Cows!) and in sharing stories about his time on Outlander! My sister and I would love to see more of the highlands but only if Don was our guide!

Don is a treasure!!!!!!! He was a wealth of knowledge regarding the landscape and history of our visited areas. Don created a safe environment for us and made us feel well cared for. He is an attentive guide and was mindful of the various hiking levels in our group. He answered our questions thoughtfully and gave us suggestions when needed. He went above and beyond to keep us safe and comfortable. It was a fantastic trip, and I can't wait to do another!

Our guide was wonderful. Very patient and helpful, full of local knowledge and a great sense of humour.

Don was great--he quickly tuned in to the needs and interests of people on the trip.
He had an extensive knowledge of the history and wildlife of the area--I felt like I learned alot!

Don was friendly ,helpful and ensured the trip ran smoothly.

Don was very attentive and a great story teller. High energy.

Our guide Don was such a lovely man and understood all of our needs, especially mine as I am a slow but steady walker, he guided me through difficult walks with a smile and so much encouragement, thank you Don

Don could not be faulted. His expertise, knowledge and affability were excellent and enhanced the enjoyment of the holiday.

Don is a superb guide.

Our guides absolutely made this trip for us. Don was nothing less than heroic, and Andy was a gem as a late, but welcome and essential, addition. Finally, no words can describe out gratitude for Tim. The patience he displayed toward every member of our party, even those few who were particularly demanding (and in my opinion quite unreasonable and unprepared for the task at hand) was laudable. He treated everyone on the journey as important and made efforts to include us all as part of one team with the goal of successfully completing our aspirations all the way to the destination. His wit, knowledge and empathy with be our best memory of this trip and elevated it to one of the best we’ve ever experienced.

Our guides were knowledgeable and very organized.

Tim and Don (who had to leave on Day 3 due to an injury) were both excellent and very knowledgeable. They definitely had our safety in mind the whole trip. I only wish I had more opportunities to hear all of their stories and insights. Andy, who replaced Don was also excellent.

Tim was exceptional guide and leader, took very good care of the group. Don was very good but do to injury only got to travel with the group for a short period. A big thank you to Struan and Andy for filling in to ensure our trip could continue.

Don Pritchard was an absolutely outstanding guide. He was kind, funny, supportive, encouraging, and highly capable. We did several challenging hikes, and he taught me how to adjust my breathing, pacing and technique to make it to the summit. There were two occasions where I was close to giving up just a short distance from the summit, but Don's patience and encouragement made me carry on and I made it! I didn't want to let him down! He was very skillful at navigating the varying abilities and paces of the members of the group, so everyone felt comfortable. Having had a second career in horticulture after over two decades in the Royal Navy, he was also incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna we saw on our walks, and the information he shared as we walked made the excursions so much more interesting. He was also highly knowledgeable about Scottish history, and his stories made the trip all the more meaningful. In short, Don is the BEST!

Don was a greast guide. All the walks were very good and challenging. Don was always there when I was struggling with the terrain or on narrow paths.

The walks were more challenging than I expected, but Don ensured that we all got to the end of the walk safely.

Donald was outstanding throughout. He was great in helping and encouraging everyone on the demanding hikes. Enjoyed his historical storytelling as well.

Already mention Don was excellent. He adapted to any request. Well spoken with excellent knowledge of region

Don was professional, kind & easy going

He was fantastic. Definitely felt like I was in good hands. He also went above and beyond to make sure we were all having the best time we could be.

I felt that we were in good hands and I appreciated the possibility to change plans.

Don was excellent - helpful, patient, really looked after us all. Would like him to be our guide on our next trip which says it all.

Don was a fantastic guide - he was always making sure everyone in the group was ok, and managed the differing abilities and speeds of the group extremely well. He encouraged and helped us on some challenging walks - especially Sulvian! He also re-arranged the itinery to suit the weather conditions, and when we had time before a restaurant booking added in extra things which meant we got the most out of the week. He really a great job, and even removed a tick for me one day, which is above and beyond! Due to Don leaving to replace another guide on a different trip due to Covid, we had a replacement guide Ben on the last day, who was also very good.

Don did an outstanding job. Great trail selection and very knowledgeable. He delivered for the group in every aspect. Great driver and answered all our questions.

We loved Don's knowledge. He shared so much and we truly enjoyed him

Don was an amazing leader for our group. He has excellent driving skills on the skinny wiggly roads out on Isle of Harris and Lewis. His knowledge of the land was incredible. I was always eager to hear his history lessons while we were on the trails. Don made sure to anticipate places on the trail where I might need some assistance & he encouraged me along the way to stop and enjoy the amazing scenery. I so enjoyed every moment of the trip! I was amazed how cool and calm Don was through every situation, even the quick change of plans when out ferry wasn't leaving port.

Don was an excellent guide, adapting the itinerary to suit the conditions and the feelings/abilities of the group. He was good company, informative and supportive. I was really pleased that he swapped the Caledonian Canal walk for a delightful and more varied walk at Foyers.

Thank you to Don for being an excellent guide who really worked hard to ensure our little group had an enjoyable time. He was kind, helpful, informative and good fun. He discussed alternative itineraries with us as a result of the weather each day and looked after us so well.

The guide gave great information and ensured everyone was okay.

Both Don Pritchard and Caroline Hart were excellent, and they made a good partnership. Don had great knowledge of the natural and social history of the route, and had plenty of stories to share. Caroline was a very natural and engaging leader and effortlessly ensured everyone was brought into conversations. Both were very supportive and caring, attending to any injuries (actual or potential) and really doing their best to ensure everyone could complete the route - for example starting early with some group members who might need extra time on a certain day.

Don ticks all boxes for a great guide. I was particularly impressed with how he managed our group of very different levels of fitness, keeping tabs on everyone despite how sprawled out we were at times. His backpack was like a tardis of useful things for all occasions.
I'm also very grateful for his encouragement and ability to get some of us across a narrow ridge at a significant height, this was one of the highlights of the trip for me, a real sense of achievement.
His knowledge of the history of Scotland, plants and animals added to each walk we did (and I also learnt quite a lot about helicopter engines too!)
I had the sense that Don could get anyone out of a tight spot in any situation - he's a gem of a guide.

Very professional in all aspects of there work and there experience was unbelievable and both guides throughly enjoyed there chosen field of work

Don and Caroline were both truly excellent throughout the whole trip. They both displayed quiet professionalism to peoples varying needs and enhanced the overall enjoyment and experience of the trip. Each days route was shared at the start, and whatever the subject, helped answer peoples questions throughout. To me, although perhaps not immediately visible, above all else, they quietly & diplomaticaly ensured no one was inadvetently marginalised or left out......something that requires a wide spectrum of 'people' skills.

They are a credit to themselves and to Wilderness Scotland.

Both Caroline and Don are fantastic guides..
Great knowledge between them
Organized helpful and made to feel safe during the adventure..
Last but not least good sense of humour which is required ...
Loved everything about the trip....
I would recommend the company and hopefully use it again in the near future......

Don was amazing. He was fun, knowledgeable and compassionate when I experienced vertigo! The trip wouldn't have been as smooth or as fun without him. I can't believe how much stuff he carried around in his rucksack but he never complained or fussed if we (I) didn't quite have the right equipment - just pulled something out of his rucksack to help the situation. What an Ace guy x

Thoughtful. helpful. patient and kind. Always steered me to walks within my capability and interests.. Lots of stories and local knowledge.

Don is a superb guide. Good briefings before the walk and he is always aware of any difficulties individuals might experience.
Good company in the evenings.
Full of funny stories and interesting facts about the area.

Don was great. Very knowledgeable and very patient with the slow coaches like me! Very proactive in finding alternatives for people who found the walks a bit much and wanted a break. Friendly and approachable.

Supportive, encouraging and fun

Don was very wel organized, attentive to every individual, patient & knowledgeable. We were also surprised with great off track routes that made the hikes even more special!

It was interesting to see how the group’s confidence and ability improved over the week.

Extremely knowledgable guide - very impressed

Huge thanks to Don. Some people (who don't know any better) might question the need for guide on a walking holiday to places in the UK where there's lots of information on the internet and in guide books about where to go and which routes to walk, but we couldn't disagree more. It's no exaggeration to say that without Don's considerable knowledge of the areas (not just the walking routes and sites, but of flora, fauna and history), skill and judgement (in making sure we made the best of the weather at the right times and matching the walking routes to our ability - there was a mix of ability in the group but his well-judged choices of routes kept everyone very happy with the walking), as well as his good humour, we wouldn't have got anywhere near as much enjoyment or learning from the trip - he really made the holiday what it was and looked after us very well. Can't thank him enough.

Don was extremely supportive and tolerant of the range of ability in thegroup. He is also very knowledgeable about The Highlands and was able to share this knowledge in clear outlines of the history, geography and the wildlife.

Don was helpful and informative. His local knowledge is good. He taught us a lot about the history of Mull and he knew exactly where to find the golden eat and the sea eagles.

Our guide Don was excellent . He was a great source of information about geology,history wildlife …... He put a lot of effort into devising enjoyable walks suitable for the varying abilities of the group and adapting to the daily weather. He was also kind and thoughtful with a great sense of humour. I felt very well looked after.

Don was great, helpful, very knowledgeable on a range of issues, geology being a high point !!

Don was a first class guide: knowledgeable on local history, plants and birds.
He helped all of us access remote places in this amazing area. He was patient, kind and, together with Andy’s advice, chose the best walks for the weather conditions.

Our guide Don Pritchard consistently went well above and beyond for every one of the members of our trip. Don's professional demeanor as a guide was evident from when he picked us in Oban on our first day to every day following by greeting us each morning to a clean and tidy van. Don always made sure we were well prepared for the days activities, going over our itinerary for the day and modifying our excursions if necessary based on the needs and ability of our group. One evening when we were about to have dinner in Tobermory my wife was not feeling well and was in a fair amount of discomfort. Don did not hesitate to run (literally) to the store before it closed down the road to get a slew of heartburn/stomach medications out of his own pocket, which helped her immensely that night. For the next 2 days as my wife was on the mend he was constantly checking up on her and ensuring she was okay. Don was always very knowledgeable on most every subject, however if there was an answer he did not know (our family had a LOT of questions) he would use his own personal time that evening to research that topic so he could give us an informed answer the next morning. His knowledge of everything, from the local wildlife and plants to the history of Scotland itself was amazing, and he made every day entertaining with his witty jokes and sincere demeanor. We say this with absolute sincerity that Don felt like a member of our family in that short time, and we were genuinely sad when we had to part ways on our final day of the trip. From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank Mr. Pritchard for making our trip to Scotland one that we will never forget.

We could not say enough about Don. He looked after us as a shepherd with his flock. We felt safe and in great hands. His personality and demeanour make him the ideal choice for anyone who signs up for your tours. We have been recommending him to everyone we've spoken to. ....

Mentioned before, Don is incredible. He really cares about everyone in the group and he strives to make sure everyone, despite experience level, is having a great time.

As per my earlier comment, our guide Don was absolutely fantastic. His professionalism, knowledge, consideration and good humour really helped to make this a memorable trip.

Don was.perfect in guiding, keeping the cohesion in the group, answering all possible questions, and showing all possible plants and munros.

Don Pritchard is superlative. Can't say enough positive about him. I run a pretty big business and Don is the kind of person that every business should die to have as part of their organization. I would have hired him away from you in an instant if I needed someone with his skill set and a job he would enjoy; however, I think he really enjoys doing what he is doing. He is smart, confident, unbelievably knowledgeable and just a pleasure to be with. He is a great spokesperson for your company, and you should be so happy to have him. As a medical professional I wondered what you would do if someone became ill on this walk; Don's experience and demeanor made it clear that could deal with literally any problem. He is also almost uniquely understated and focused on customer satisfaction. We are considering another (less vigorous) tour next year and we would only come over if Don were the guide given the immense value he added to our trip. I am sure you have many great guides, but Don is a real keeper, as we would say.

Don was exceptional as a guide. Very fit and knowledgable in many relevant topic areas (geology, history, botanical, first aid and trail features). He was pleasant, interactive and attentive at all times, doing everything in his power to ensure a good experience by all members of the group. He went above and beyond the call of duty over and over again. I would not hesitate to do another tour with him as guide.

Don was very Knowledgeable and led the group very well with appropriate (but not over the top) regard to safety.

He was very good. He had a hard group to keep up with. Some were way in front and others way behind. I thought he did a great job of keeping us together.

Don was flexible, knowledgeable, patient.

Don is a walking, talking genius! His knowledge of walks, flora, fauna, and history is remarkable, and his sense of humour is fantastic. He regaled us with so many stories and went out of his way to accommodate any wish we had.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

It sounds like you had an incredible trip overall and a wonderful time with Don. Hopefully we can welcome you to the Highlands again soon.

As above. Don was the best.

Don was an excellent guide. Very professional, the first guide I’ve had to explain what to do if he’s injured, he’s considerate, calm, decisive, thorough and has a great sense of humour! We loved all his stories and his funny remarks. I’ve experienced 3 guides before Don and he was the best!

This is the fourth trip for our group in Europe - we have really liked all our guides but Don Pritchard was the best we have ever had - lovely manner, considerate and kind, wide range of knowledge on all things Scotland including history, the plants and trees, and Scottish life. He was very good at judging the group so that if there was some indecision within the group he would help us come to a decision that we could all be happy with - he was outstanding. Oh, and one more thing - great sense of humor!

As described, we could not have had a better guide!

As mentioned earlier, Don was the best guide we have ever had.

Don was brilliant! He was also really aware of different needs and wants along the way and very patient.

Our guide, Don Pritchard, was outstanding. He is the best guide I've ever had. I do't remember anyone ever truly going over the map of our itinerary, taking out GPS and making sure we(or someone) knew how operate it, emergency numbers, and how to get us back from hike in case of emergency (i.e. to him) He truly took excellent care of us, was always helpful for the slower hikers while giving speedy people option of going ahead but waiting at designated locations. Don gets 5 stars in my book. His choice of hikes was likewise well done. Isle of Rassay was spectacular.

Don was very helpful. Everyone seemed to get along and all enjoyed the experience.

Don was excellent. He explained all our walks beforehand, showing us on the map, and also explained the gradient and going. He ensured we were all able to hike to our own abilities, and it was obvious that safety was a top priority.

Don was patient, perceptive, professional, and personal! I would recommend going on a Hebrides birding tour with Don to all my friends and family.

Donald was knowledgeable, helpful, and worked hard to meet the very divergent needs of a small but diverse group.

Don was a very considerate guide with interesting information about locations and conducted walks at our pace.

Our main guide was a very experienced mountaineer with an amazing knowledge of local history and wildlife. We felt at ease the entire trip.